Friday, June 17, 2011

Wilier 799/Sette99/Zero.7, Continued

Wilier continues to lead us on....

The new Wilier was initially set to be announced on May 18th. On that day a count-down timer appeared on the Wilier website indicating the unveiling would be June 15th. This date came and went and in its place is a new announcement: "Official presentation on 1 July".

Nevertheless, here is a better photo (click to enlarge):

www.road.cc had this report recently:"Wilier are introducing a new high-end road bike called the Zero.7 that will be built around their lightest ever frame. It will not be used by Wilier’s pro team, Lampre-ISD, so doesn’t need to conform to the UCI’s minimum weight limit of 6.8kg. The medium frame, fully painted up, will weigh less than 800g, according to the Italian brand.

The Zero.7 frame features FSA’s new press-fit BB386EVO bottom bracket system and the bikes will be equipped with a dedicated FSA chainset.

The carbon fibre frame uses the same ZnO technology and 60 ton Mitsubishi materials as Wilier’s Cento1 Superleggera along with brand new SEI Film technology.

SEI Film technology? It stands for Special Elastic Infiltration (we love a TLA – three letter abbreviation) and it means, so we’re told, that there is a film of elastic material between the carbon layers. Wilier aren’t saying what that material is; they’re playing their cards close to their chest on this one.

What does the SEI Film technology do? Wilier list these benefits:

• More vibration damping; more comfort with less weight.

• Increased impact strength – by about 35%.

• Increased safety with less weight.

• Increased interlaminar shear strength (the maximum stress between the layers of carbon) by 18%; this reduces the possibility of the layers delaminating.

• Increased three-point flexing strength; the material can flex 12% more without cracking.

Wilier say the end result is a super light frame with exceptional stiffness and outstanding vibration damping properties.

They are currently producing a limited run of framesets with a further production batch starting later in the summer. These frames will be available as complete bikes only, built up as pictured with a Campag Super Record groupset, a new FSA 386 chainset and Campagnolo Bora wheels. Only one colour option will be offered, and that’s the one shown above.

It’ll cost you, though. The bike will retail for around £8,250 ($13,300; 9,300 EUR), although that price has yet to be confirmed."

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TLA = three-letter acronym. And they're becoming far too prevalent in the bike world. Everyone is coming up with a new 'system' or something, and then emblazoning stickers all over the bike to remind us. All we used to need was '753' or 'Columbus SL', perhaps 'Ernesto C' or 'Giovanni P', and 'Vincitore 3 Giri d'Italia' ... 'nuff said.